Collapsible drawing table



Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE DRAWINGTABLE Application July 16, 1935, Serial No. 31,704

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tables, and has for an objectthe provision of an improved collapsible drawing table.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved collapsibledrawing table having a drawing surface held at the proper angle andwhich is made of a comparatively light material, but which is firm andstrong so as to afford .ample support to a person using the table.

It is a further object to provide a satisfactory collapsible drawingtable which will be attractive in appearance when assembled so as toprovide an ornamental piece of furniture, and which may be collapsed toa convenient size so that it may easily be transported from place toplace or be concealed in a closet when not .in use.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, eference should be had tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the table embodying the presentinvention with part of the outer surface of one of the uprights brokenaway to reveal the supporting blades inside the upright;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line3-3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view of the table in collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the base of in partial y coll ps position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which the base of the table may beformed;

Fig, 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the top member of the tablemay be formed;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of one of the longitudinal supporting blades forthe upright members;

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations of the transverse supporting blades forthe upright members; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the supporting blades in assembledposition.

Our improved table comprises a top member l5 supported at a suitableangle on a base portion the table l6, both of which are preferably madeof relatively light but strong fibrous sheet material such as corrugatedcardboard.

To afiord the proper strength and support for a draftsman or artistusing the table, we preferably form the top member of two superimposedlayers I! and I8 which may be integral as shown inv Fig. 7, the layer I!being folded along the fold line I9 upon the lower layer IS. A pair ofdownwardly extending flaps 2|] and 2| which a d lding the t p mem in pot on when the table is assembled are formed along the 'upper and loweredges of the top member by folding the superimposed layers upon the foldlines 22 adjacent the lower edge and the top layer upon the fold line 23adjacent the upper edge of the top member. In the upper layer l1 weprovide a series of cutouts 24 of various sizes and shapes which areadapted to receive receptacles of paint and water and various drawingimplements and retain them in position on the table. The lower layer l8serves as a backing for the upper layer and the receptacles and drawingimplements will, of course, rest upon and be supported by the lowerlayer. The cutouts 24 which are to receive receptacles of fluid,however, may be and in fact preferably are continued through the lowerlayer of material so that the receptacles may be retained in asubstantially vertical position The base of the table comprises a pairof sides 25 and 26 having angularly disposed upper edges slantingdownwardly from the rear to the front of the table, a rear member 21 anda front member 28, all of which members may be formed separately andsecured together by suitable means, such as adhesive strips or tape, sothat the base in collapsing may fold along the points of connection or,if desired, the members may be integral and formed from one blank asshown in Fig. 6. If the base is formed of one blank, then suitablevertical fold lines 29 are provided between the side, front and rearmembersalong which the base folds in collapsing, and the two ends of theblank indicated at 30 at the edge of one of the side members and of thefront member are secured together, as by the flexible adhesive strip 3|,so that the base may also fold along this line in collapsing.

To provide suitable leg and foot room for a user of the table, a centralopening 32 is formed through the table from the front thereof to therear, and this may be accomplished by severing or slitting the front andrear members 21 and 28 along vertical lines 33 and 34 and horizontallines 35 and 36, the severed lines being generally T-shaped so as toprovide flaps 31 and 38 which are folded inwardly and secured togetherat their ends by suitable means, such as the adhesive strips 39, so asto provide the base adjacent its lower end with a pair of spaced foursided uprights indicated at 40. The cutout portion 32 should be ofsufficient height and width so as to provide convenient leg and footroom for the user of the table. To provide additional knee space and forornamental and decorative reasons, the central opening 32 may beprovided with the additional cut out portion 4| at its upper end at thefront of the table.

Along the upper edge of the front, side and rear members a series offiaps 42 are provided which are folded inwardly and downwardly toprovide additional strength for the table. To retain the various drawingimplements on the table and prevent them from rolling off the inclinedupper surface, we provide an upstanding strip 43 along the upper edgethrough the central portion of the front of the table and which ispreferably formed integral with the member 28.

The pair of spaced uprights 40 which are provided on either side of thecentral opening 32 are sufficiently strong to support the table and toretain the top member in proper position so as to provide a suitabledrawing surface. However, to add additional strength and also to aid inpreventing the table from accidentally collapsing, we prefer to providea plurality of intersecting supporting blades in each of the uprightmembers extending from the bottom thereof to the top of the table. Theseblades which are likewise made of a relatively light but strong fibrousmaterial such as corrugated cardboard comprise the longitudinal blades44 provided with angularly disposed upper edges 45, the forward end ofthe blades being of substantially the same height as the front member 28of the table, and the rear end of the blade being of substantially thesame height as the rear member 21 of the table, and the transverselydisposed blades 45 and 46' which are adapted to intersect thelongitudinal blades at right angles, the blade 46 being of greaterheight than the blade 46'. The longi tudinal blades are formed with aseries of slits 41 at their lower ends, while the transverse blades areprovided with a series of slits 48 at their upper ends.

The blades are assembled so that a slot in the transverse blade willengage the longitudinal blade above the slot in that blade, while theslot in the longitudinal blade will engage the transverse blade at apoint below the slot in the latter blade as more clearly shown in Fig.11. The assembled blades indicated by the numeral 50 preferably comprisea pair of longitudinal blades intersecting a pair of transverse bladessubstantially at right angles. Since the table and the longitudinalblades taper from the rear towards the front, the transverse blades aremade of different heights depending upon the position at which theyengage the transverse blade. Thus the blade 46' is shorter than theblade 46, since it engages the transverse blades at a position forwardof the blade 46.

A set of the assembled blades 50 are disposed in each of the uprights 40as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Top member I5 is then placed upon the basewith the layer I! in superimposed relation with respect to the layer l8,and the flanges 20 and 2| respectively are inserted into the base memberso that they project downwardly, thereby retaining the top in position.The longitudinal blades 44 are preferably provided with cutout portions49 at their front and rear ends at the upper end so as to accommodatethe flaps 20 and 2|. When the top member I5 is thus assembled it will beretained in position at the proper angle due to its engagement with theupper end of the blades 44, 46 and 46' and due to the interengagementbetween the flaps 20 and 2| and the upper ends of the blades and thefront and rear members of the base portion.

To collapse the table, the top member I5 is lifted upwardly so that theflaps 20 and 2| are pulled out of engagement with the base, and the flap2| is folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The assembled blades are thenremoved from the upright members 40 and caused to fold upon themselvesas shown in Fig. 4. The base member is then caused to collapse along thefold lines as shown in Fig, 5 until it reaches the fully collapsedposition shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that when the base is fullycollapsed only two layers of corrugated cardboard will be superimposedupon each other at any given place. This is due to the fact that thecentral opening 32 is of the same length from upright to upright as thetwo sides 25 or 26 of the table which permits the collapsed uprightmember 40 to fit wholly within the space provided by the centralopening.

In assembling the table the base is first opened to a position where allthecorners are at right angles. The supporting blades are then assembledso that the transverse blades are at right angles to the longitudinalblades as shown at 50 in Fig. 11, and are then inserted in the twoupright members 40. The top member [5 is then placed on top of the basewith the two fiaps 20 and 2! extending downwardly along the innersurfaces of the front and rear members of the base.

It will be seen that from the structure herein described and illustrateda. collapsible drawing table has been provided which is light yet strongand sturdy, and which can be easily collapsed to a convenient size fortransportation or for being concealed in a closet when not in use.

It is to be understood, of course, that many modifications may be madein the herein described and illustrated embodiment without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a collapsible drawing table, a member including two superimposedlayers of relatively light but strong fibrous material, the upper layerproviding a drawing surface and being formed with cutout portions toreceive receptacles and drawing implements, and the lower layerproviding a backing for the upper layer and a support for receptaclesand implements disposed in the cut-out portions, and collapsible meansfor supporting said member so that the drawing surface is disposed at anangle.

2. In a collapsible drawing table, a member including two superimposedlayers of relatively light but strong fibrous material, the upper layerproviding a drawing surface and being integral with and folded upon thelower surface and formed with cutout portions to receive receptacles anddrawing implements, and the lower layer providing a. backing for theupper layer and a support for receptacles and implements disposed in thecutout portions, and collapsible means for supporting said member sothat the drawing surface is disposed at an angle.

3. A drawing table comprising a member providing a drawing surface andhaving a plurality of cutouts therein for receiving receptacles anddrawing implements and having a backing supported beneath said cutoutsand a collapsible base for releasably supporting said member, said baseincluding a hollow upright having a plu rality of sides, vertical foldlines between said sides along which said upright folds in collapsing,and intersecting vertically disposed members inside said hollow uprightextending lengthwise thereof from one end to the other and transverselythereof from one side to the other at right angles to each other andfrom the bottom substantially to the top of said upright.

4. A drawing table comprising a member including two superimposed layersof relatively light but strong fibrous material, the upper layerproviding a drawing surface and being formed with cutout portions toreceive receptacles and drawing implements, and the lower layerproviding a backing for the upper layer and a support for thereceptacles and implements disposed in the cutout portions, said memberbeing provided with a turned down flap along two opposite edges and acollapsible base provided with means to receive said turned down flapsand support said member at an angle, said base including a hollowupright having a plurality of sides, vertical fold lines between saidsides along which said upright folds in collapsing, and intersectingvertically disposed supporting blades inside said upright extendinglengthwise thereof from one end to the other and transversely thereoffrom one side to the other at right angles to each other and from thebottom substantially to the top of said upright.

5. A collapsible drawing tab-1e comprising a member including twosuperimposed layers of relatively light but strong fibrous material, theupper layer providing a drawing surface and being formed with cutoutportions to receive receptacles and drawing implements, and the lowerlayer providing a backing for the upper layer and a support for thereceptacles and implements disposed in the cutout portions, said memberbeing provided with turned down flaps along two opposite edges and acollapsible base having front and rear portions with their upper edgesin different horizontal planes and connected by side,

portions having angularly disposed upper edges and being adaptedtoreceive the turned down flaps and support said member at an angle,said base including a pair of hollow uprights spaced apart so as to forma central opening through said table providing foot and leg room for aperson using the table, each upright having a plurality of sides,vertical fold lines between the sides along which the uprights fold incollapsing, and intersecting vertically disposed members in each of saidhollow uprights extending lengthwise thereof from one end to the otherand transversely thereof from one side to the other at right angles toeach other and from the bottom substantially to the top of said base.

6. A drawing table comprising a top member including two superimposedlayers of relatively light but strong fibrous material, the upper layerproviding a drawing surface and being integral with and folded upon thelower surface and formed with cutout portions to receive receptacles anddrawing implements, and the lower layer providing a backing for theupper layer and a support for receptacles and implements disposed in thecutout portions, said member being provided with turned down flaps alongtwo opposite edges, and a collapsible base provided with means toreleasably receive said turned down flaps and support said member at anangle, said base including front, rear and two side portions, the upperedge of the rear portion being in a higher plane than the upper edge ofthe front portion, and the upper edges of the side portions beingangularly disposed, all of the upper edges being provided withdownwardly folded flaps, and said front and rear portions being providedwith a central opening extending through the table to provide leg roomfor a user of the table, and forming two spaced four-sided hollowuprights in which are disposed intersecting members extending lengthwiseof the uprights from one end to the other and transversely of theuprights from one side to the other substantially at right angles toeach other.

7. In a collapsible table, a base including front, rear and a pair ofside members, and vertical fold lines between said members along whichthe base is adapted to fold in collapsing, said front and rear membersbeing provided with a central opening extending from the bottom of themembers upwardly and through the table from the front to the rearthereof affording leg and foot room for a user of the table, and so asto provide a pair of spaced uprights each having a plurality of sidesconnected by vertical fold lines along which the uprights fold incollapsing, said central opening being of sufficient width so that theuprights do not overlap when in collapsed position.

8. A collapsible drawing table comprising a base member and a memberproviding a drawing surface supported on the base member so that thedrawing surface is disposed at an angle, said base member includingfront, rear, and a pair of side members and vertical fold lines betweensaid members along which the base is adapted to fold in collapsing, saidfront and rear members being provided with a central opening extendingfrom the bottom of the members upwardly and through the table from thefront to the rear thereof, affording leg and foot room for a user of thetable and so as to provide a pair of spaced uprights, each having aplurality of sides connected by vertical fold lines along which theuprights fold in collapsing, said central opening being of sufficientwidth so that the uprights do not overlap when in collapsed position.

FRANK A. GIANNINOTO. ABRAHAM I. FRIEDMAN.

